Interview: Oliver Ibáñez AKA Olipop

Recently I was fortunate enough to be able to organise an interview with the insanely talented Oliver Ibáñez, whom you may know as Olipop around the web. He’s based in Spain and previously worked with popular t-shirt company Fanisetas, which was actually co-founded by his brother – there must be something that helps them create awesome tees in their genes! We’re huge fans of his work, having featured his designs numerous times in our Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, Adventure Time and Bioshock t-shirt lists, we obviously think he has great taste in design inspiration. Without further ado, here’s my interview with Oliver.

How would you introduce yourself and your art to people who may not familiar with you?

My name is Oliver aka Olipop, a graphic designer from Spain who loves movies, tv shows, soundtracks, videogames, Harley-Davidson bikes and Scotland! And of course making awesome and hilarious t-shirts, which I enjoy a lot to do.

How did you get started designing t-shirts?

My beginnings were in 2010 with Fanisetas, a Spanish t-shirt company founded by my brother and one of his friends who introduce me in this world. I started doing some designs inspired on tv show, movies or games and then we send it through different daily sites. Now I’m working on my own as a freelance designer, but I keep doing this kind of job.

What inspires your work?

Specially movies, tv shows and videogames. These three in particular have been with me my whole life, and I like to think in so different ways to make funny designs for people to enjoy and get fun with them.

Can you give us any insight into your creative process?

Normally, I try to keep up with the novelty of the moment. If there is something that people is talking about, I start looking for some information and to seek references until I find an idea that may be funny or might like to people take on a t-shirt. Sometimes the inspiration comes to me at any time, or when I’m watching something else and there is the spark in my brain who tells me what to do haha

Which is your favorite design of your own?

Well, I have many designs which I’ve enjoyed doing a lot. The one which I’m must proud of is my “Winter is Coming” version with Ned Stark as a weather man that I made when I was with Fanisetas, I couldn’t imagine how much people would love it!! And one of the most recent designs I really love is my “Karate Time”, inspired in Adventure Time and Karate Kid. It was very fun for me 🙂

Which has been your most successful design to-date?

My “Heisenberg Crystal Meth” with no doubt! It has been released on many daily sites and stills selling very well.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

The very first artist which I really like since many years ago is Drew Struzan, I love all their works he did for movie posters. And then there are all those great t-shirt (and much more things) artists we have today like Megan Lara, Bamboota, Harebrained, Winter Artwork, Jimiyo or Fuacka. I really love their styles and works they do for t-shirts, but there are many more artist that I like and inspire me every day in my work.

What are some of your interests outside of art?

I couldn’t live without movies and hearing my favourite film soundtracks, specially from John Williams! Other of my passions are the Harley-Davidson bikes, now I have a custom bike which I enjoy a lot to make short travels, and I hope some day to have one of those between my legs! And of course to visit my favourite country since I was a kid, Scotland! 😀

What are your vices?

I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, to much things to do in a small box! E-mails, facebook, listen to music and watching movies and series.

Hypothetical dinner party, you and any two people, dead or alive, who do you choose?

John Williams and William Wallace? Haha

Are you currently working on anything we should keep an eye out for?

I have a notebook full of ideas! But I’m planning to release a collection of shirts for this summer, so stay tuned! 😉

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Thanks for your time, Oliver. Really looking forward to seeing what comes to life out of that notebook of yours!